Android 4.4

Google has just released its monthly chart for Android coverage and most of it is what you'd expect, with older versions shrinking and latter ones getting stronger. What is somewhat surprising, though just a wee bit expected, is that Android 5.0 Lollipop is still missing from the picture, hinting at the rather slow adoption of the latest Android version, despite Google's more aggressive push in order to combat that notorious image fragmentation that has beset the platform.

Even at the height of the hype for the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, Kitkat usage continues to grow as the version of Android that is being adopted the most. It might take a while before Lollipop starts to even be in the picture, so Kitkat is still THE go-to version of Android.

There have been a lot of unofficial CM11-based/CM11-like ROMs for the Verizon LG G3, but finally we have an official one – this is the official CM11 ROM for the Verizon LG G3 (together with nightlies). We got wind of this via the XDA developers forum. If you want some of this, dig in.

ASUS just launched a dual SIM KitKat smartphone that is set to lodge squarely on the mid-tier market – the ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite (A502CG). ASUS seems to be targeting the market for affordable KitKat smartphones in developing economies, and this phone is “exhibit A” for that intent.

In our excitement over Android 5.0, we might have been guilty of forgetting that there are those who still live in a Jelly Bean world. As if to douse cold water over enthusiasm, Huawei's US outfit has just announced that its previous flagship, the Ascend Mate2, will not even be getting Android 4.4 KitKat. That practically puts an end to the software life of a smartphone that was practically just launched in January this year.

Users of OPPO’s Find 7 and 7a smartphones rejoice, you’ll finally be getting some Android KitKat goodness (while others move on to getting some Lollipop, haha) at long last. OPPO has just released V2.0.0i of its own take on Android called ColorOS, and this update will be available for the OPPO Find 7 and 7a.

Continuing its KitKat updates for its ZenFone family, ASUS has released the latest firmware for the larger ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6. Aside from updating the Intel-powered Android smartphones to the latest Android 4.4 version, it also adds some new features to region or model specific handsets.

Asus ZenFone 4 owners have something to be happy about on the first day of October. A major software update has landed for the Asus smartphone bringing with it a number of notable updates. Most notable is a new version of Android.

The Moto X is getting a lot of love these days. Its Verizon variant is expected to arrive this September 26 and the Moto Maker site became available in the UK, Germany, and France a couple of weeks ago. Motorola is even all out with the promotion of the new Android smartphone, releasing three new Moto X ads on YouTube at once and four new apps on the Google Play Store. Pre-order started only last week and those with .edu email are given Moto X discounts. All these news make this new-gen phone a highly anticipated one.

Got one of Xiaomi's recent smartphones but tired of the heavily customized MIUI experience? If you're not one to shy away from a bit of heavy lifting and from the potential risks of ROM flashing, then you might want to take a look at this new custom ROM that brings an almost vanilla Android experience to the Mi 3 and the Mi 4.